AMES – It was all Cyclones in a top-20 Big 12 showdown Friday night at Hilton Coliseum, as No. 4 Iowa State won eight matches to beat No. 18 West Virginia 32-7. It was the eighth-straight win over the Mountaineers, as Iowa State improved to 23-2 all-time against West Virginia.
Iowa State (10-2, 6-1 Big 12) won the takedown battle, 27-5, over the Mountaineers (9-4, 5-3 Big 12).
The Cyclones kicked things off with an upset at 125 pounds, as No. 11 Stevo Poulin beat No. 8 Jett Strickenberger by 14-4 major decision. Poulin was 0-4 all-time against Strickenberger entering the match, but got the best of him thanks to a big opening period. Poulin led 7-1 early after a takedown and four near fall, but Strickenberger cut the lead to 7-4 with a takedown to close the period. A second period takedown, followed by a pair of stall calls in the third led to the major decision. At 133 pounds, No. 19 Gunner Andrick defeated Adrian Meza 5-0.
No. 3 Anthony Echemendia earned the second major decision of the night for the Cyclones at 141 pounds, as he beat Jordan Titus 1-3. Echemendia used a takedown in each of the three periods to pick up his fifth major decision of the season. Echemendia improved to 14-2 on the year with the win, including a 7-2 dual record, while also earning his 50th career victory.
At 149 pounds, No. 11 Jacob Frost used a late escape to seal a 6-5 victory over Willie McDougald. Frost had a takedown in the first period, but gave one up with :36 left to tie the match. The escape with :34 remaining earned Frost his 13th victory of the year, improving to 9-2 in dual matches.
In the match of the night, No. 8 Vinny Zerban knocked off No. 6 Ty Watters 5-2 at 157 pounds. Down 1-0 going into the third period, Zerban escaped to even the match before getting a takedown with :43 remaining to lock up the win.
No. 15 Connor Euton took care of business at 165 pounds, earning a 20-4 technical fall against Sasha Gavronsky in 6:02. Euton led 7-1 after the first period thanks to a takedown and a four-point nearfall. He added two more takedowns in the second period and two in the third for his seventh technical fall of the season.
At 174 pounds, No. 13 MJ Gaitan picked up the second ranked win of the night for the Cyclones, as he beat No. 14 Brody Conley 5-4. A first period takedown by Conley gave him a 3-0 lead. After an escape to start the period, Gaitan used a takedown with :46 left I the third period to tie the match. Gaitan tallied 1:44 of riding time for the victory. At 184 pounds, No. 17 Ian Bush beat Aiden Riggins by 14-0 major decision.
CJ Carter put on a show at 197 pounds, earning his fourth technical fall of the season with a 22-6 (6:02) victory over Cole Tolley. Carter had two takedowns in each of the first two periods and closed it out with three in the third period, as he earned his 20th career victory.
Top-ranked Yonger Bastida ran his winning streak to 21-straight matches, as he dominated at heavyweight once again. All it took was 2:45 for Bastida to record seven takedowns in a 21-6 technical fall over Brock Kehler. The victory was the 94th of Bastida’s career, while he earned his 11th technical fall of the season and 27th of his career. Bastida has recorded 88 takedowns on the season, while giving up just two.
UP NEXT
Iowa State is back at home Sunday for a top-15 dual against No. 15 UNI. Action from Hilton Coliseum is set to start at 7 p.m. on ESPN+. For tickets, CLICK HERE.
MATCH-BY-MATCH RESULTS
No. 4 Iowa State 32, No. 18 West Virginia 7
125: No. 11 Stevo Poulin (ISU) maj. dec. No. 8 Jett Strickenberger (WVU), 14-4
133: No. 19 Gunner Andrick (WVU) dec. Adrian Meza (ISU), 5-0
141: No. 3 Anthony Echemendia (ISU) maj. dec. Jordan Titus (WVU), 12-3
149: No. 11 Jacob Frost (ISU) dec. Willie McDougald (WVU), 6-5
157: No. 8 Vinny Zerban (ISU) dec. No. 6 Ty Watters (WVU), 5-2
165: No. 15 Connor Euton (ISU) tech. fall Sasha Gavronsky (WVU), 20-4 (6:02)
174: No. 13 MJ Gaitan (ISU) dec. No. 14 Brody Conley (WVU), 5-4
184: No. 17 Ian Bush (WVU) maj. dec. Aiden Riggins (ISU), 14-0
197: CJ Carter (ISU) tech. fall Cole Tolley (WVU), 22-6 (6:02)
285: No. 1 Yonger Bastida (ISU) tech. fall Brock Kehler (WVU), 21-6 (2:45)
Attendance: 6,456
Officials: Evan Burchette, Ben Marshall